Conman mentioned
I haven’t heard anything from this band, but I’m a big fan of Mark Sandman’s other band Moprphine, also from Boston.
I’m a big Sebadoh fan, I think they still count as unknown, relatively. Also, ** Pavement ** pretty good. I’ve heard a few things from ** Sleater-Kinney ** and I like them too…
I apologize for my horredous spelling and attention to detail in my last post, please insert the following corrections:
Morphine,
Is,
Thank you.
I whole-heartedly endorse the bands mentioned in my above post. If you like Treat Her Right, Morphine should be right up your alley. Sebadoh is indie rock, alternating between straight ahead rocking out to soft, introspective pieces. Sleater-Kinney…I don’t like the term Grrl rock band, it sounds stupid. It’s an all female trio who are pretty talented, and have just put out a new album.
bradysg
Hot Shandy.
I don’t even know if they are together anymore or how many albums they ever put out - I have one - but I loved 'em. I think they were out of the mid-west somewhere.
Hmm, I may just have to buy the new Guadalcanal Diary album without even hearing it. 2x4 ruled!
I am really fond of the Fleshtones, though most of their albums in the past 15 years have had but one good song, tops!
Hexbreaker was probably my favorite album, with my second favorite being Fleshtones vs Reality.
Who knows what the night shall bring
bow before the Leather Kings
My favorite unknown bands are whatever bands my nephews are in at the time. They are both drummers.
One of my nephews was in TV50 and put out a CD, but they are broke up now. I don’t know the name of his new band. Am I a bad aunt?
My other drummer nephew was (possibly still is) in a band called 10 Speed. I think maybe though that the name is already taken. I’ve seen 10 Speed listed on Napster and they don’t have a CD, just a demo. I tried to download the song to see if it was one of theirs but there was a transfer error, so now I’ll never know. Anyway, they’re just kids, but they aren’t too bad in a punk rock kind of way. My kids like listening to their demo.
Jimmie’s Chickenshack! I know them! They’re funny.
Anyone else know of the Zambonies? They only sing songs about hockey. I think they’re from one of those middle states that freeze a lot. But we Vermonters love ‘em. OK, Swiddles loves them, Swiddles’ punky friends love them, but no one else has heard of them.
Local bands to look out for: Zola Turn. I’ve been informed by numerous male friends that “They’re freakin’ hot.” Chick alt band. Very cool. How can you not enjoy a band with a song called “Ninja Jane?”
And Viperhouse. They used to be an acid jazz band with a lead singer who sounded like Gwen Stephani meets the chick from Save Ferris, but now they have pared down to about 5 people, and I don’t know WHAT they sound like now. But they were featured on an episode of The Real World. And I used to work with their manager.
Destiny’s End. They are metal the way I remember metal, as well as being very nice people!
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by bradysg *
[quote]
I’m a big fan of Mark Sandman’s other band Morphine, also from Boston.
[QUOTE]
Did you know he died last year? He was a truly amazing musician.
On a lighter note, I second your Sleater-Kinney and Pavement nominations, though I’m not sure I’d call either unknown.
I have to mention the Arrogant Worms. Anybody who gets the Comedy Network will know who they are (they sing Carrot Juice Is Murder). They are hilarious. Also Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet are really good too. They do mostly instrumental work. They were responsible for the theme song for The Kids In The Hall. Very cool.
My favorite “unknown” bands are the Didjits and Sixteen Tons. Both bands were always around Champaign in the early 90’s. I believe both have since broken up.
There was a great band in the early 90’s called The Shatners that played around in the Long Beach, CA area for a few years. Absolutely fantastic, fun show… and who could ever forget the song I can’t compete with Jesus.
My favorite local neo-swing band has to be Jumpin’ Jimes; saw them play at the Derby a few times, and listening to their CD reminds me of happy times.
I also love BR-549 and The Reverend Horton Heat (ok, the Rev isn’t that unknown, but I still had to mention him)
Would we consider the Eels unknown? Because they’re certainly not well-known, and WAY worthy of more exposure than they’re getting.
Y’know, I was thinking about starting a thread similar to this one. I’m glad there’s so many responses already, because I tend to get pretty bored with mainstream acts pretty fast. My contribution:
Quintron (aka Mr. Quintron) from New Orleans. Basically a one-man band with an electric organ and ancillary sound effects. I saw him in concert here in Detroit last year, and his show was total energy. Awesome.
Volume All*Star Interesting band I recently found out about from Slabco records, along with
Draco, and
DJ Dynomite D, the king of sampling.
The Fendermen An early sixties band. I found a 45 containing their totally wacked-out version of Jimmie Rodger’s “Mule Skinner Blues.” I think that one song was the only thing they did, but God! It’s great.
Fez Some local Detroit talent, and acquaintances of mine. How can you not like a band that regularly plays a pump organ, theramin, and banjo, among other instruments? Unfortunately, they don’t play regularly at all any more.
I forgot to mention my favorite “unknown” band: VAST (Visual Audio-Sensory Theater.) I’ve heard them described as “Nine Inch Nails meets Enya” and that strikes me as a pretty good analogy for their music.
This is my list of my favorite unknown bands: Great Big Sea, Cast, Orbit, Smoking Popes, Compulsion, Stone Roses, Del Amitri, Naked, Big Back Forty, Sparklehorse.
This is my list of favorite semi-unknown bands: Finger Eleven, Mars Electric, Guster, Marvelous 3, Letters to Cleo, My Friend Steve, Imogen Heap, Owsley, Old 97’s, VAST, Peter Circe, Splender, Vallejo, Mr. Henry.
Del Amitri is unknown?
I don’t think anyone could call The Stone Roses unknown!
I’ve only heard one Del Amitri song played on the radio, though he has more albums.
And that was a few years back, most people around here have forgotten him.
Oh wait, I forgot to list a few more:
The Uninvited
Jill Sobule
Kendall Payne
Son Volt
No one in my area, no one I’ve ever met, in fact, know who the Stone Roses are.
I know of two bands that aren’t fairly well-known, but are really good. The first one is a German band by the name of Fury in the Slaughterhouse. The other band is called Kidneythieves. Both are excellent bands.